The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-19
sExps EXCITING BEAR HUME
A Man, n Bis Grizziy, and n Rattlesnalke n
tho Rettoun Of Q Prospect Hole.

the Hottom OF . prospect Holc.
CAIrENTE, Cal, Juno 1O.--one-eyed Zeke.
who hunts for living around owen Lake and
along Owen River over In Inyo, came In yes
terday to be doctored for sprained ankley
spraining that ankle saved his life on this last
trip. Zeke has scheme Of his own for killing
grizzlies that Is very effective II man ha@
nerve enough to work 1t and his gun doesnS
miss fire. Heicarries!a heavy double barrelled
shotgun and 44-calibre revolver, but mover
Tugs rife even when no goes after bears.
When he sights grizzly he pops at him with
the revolver and gets him mad. standing In the
open where the bear can see him, and shoot
ing often enough to dispel any possible doubts
In the bears noddle about the annoyance.
A grizzly will 90 his own way usually II not
interforod with. but II nsulted with pistol
shots he is pretty certain to mako disturb
ance Of the peace. The exasperated beaR
snaps viciously at the place where the pistol
ball strikes him, concludes that Zeke Is respon-
sible for tho trouble and goes for him. Zeke
waits calmly with q double load Of heavJ
shot in each barrel and the hammers at full
cock. Caleb, comes right up to him. and when
hind legs to throw himself upon Zeke. Then
Zeke, turns loose both barrels at the bears
S lists nearly through him. The heavy charge at
such close range smashes the grizzy's interior
rSht away. Il Is far more effectiSe than an
express rifle bullet. But It requires nerve to
%a as Rss1 nPs e Se until no
Zeko met boar IN the mountains near Owen
Lake and played his customary game. but not
bad luck, both cartridges In his gun had de-
fectye primers. and when he pulled the trig;;
sy the aIsence OF ' the usual loud report It
was a critical moment for Zeke, 1t took him
the thousandth part 81 second to grasp the
Hnother small fraction q a second was CON:
sumed IN his unexpected descent to tho bottom
With Fl 1s escaped aS9 n notice.
hsSs Sssn III 3 ssssa ps
rom yuma e the doH%BiS zete VOWS wss
The sudden and unaccountable disappear
s snce OF the mn, man with z gun surprised thss
fore he began to catch on to the fact that Zeke
mot before him As Eeks struck
coming down too, and then he removed the
bad cartridges and quickly Inserted two more
IN his gun. He knew the bear would smell
In hall q minute Calebs wicked snout ap-
At at the Of hs % nd
legs. Caleb was coming down stern foremost
after the noxiQus person who had fired bullets
aimed just under his shoulder and sent two
vitals In a diagonal line. The wound was ale
most instantly fatal, and the bear came down
in heap at the bottom Of the hole. which was
about ten or twelve feet deep.
:. The excitement being over. Zeke realized
that he had been injured in the fall, and that
bear to rest and reflect, and to induce reflec-
ton he took out his pipe. and lighted it. The
flare Of the match lighted up the prospect hole.
sized rattlesnake lying dead under Ills feet. It's
head crushed by his bootheel. He had landed
the slipping Of his foot had sprained his ankle.
Zeke had a hard time climbing out Of the
got there, and sent some men up to hoist the
bear to the surface. The grizzlys weight was
estimated to be 900 pounds.
ZeEe says he doesn't care about the sprain,
because If his foot had not landed just in that
spot he would have had more company than he
o prospect hole.